German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and French President Emmanuel Macron are all set to celebrate German reunification day, officials in the German capital of Berlin confirmed on Friday.
The event, celebrated on October 3, marks the reunion of East and West Germany to become the Federal Republic of Germany on October 3, 1990, formally ending a separation of the two since World War II.
Celebrated like a festival and considered to be the country’s most important public holiday, a larger festival is organised each year in the capital by one of the federal states.
This year, the main event is being held in the German city of Saarbrucken, in the southwestern state of Saarland, bordering France.
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The festival begins on October 2 and lasts until October 4, comprising events in the entertainment, art and culture, culinary and tourism arenas, as well as democratic exchange.
This year, German Chancellor, Friedrich Merz, will be marking the day along with the guest of honour, French President, Emmanuel Macron.
In a post on X, Merz wrote: “35 years of German unity are a reason to celebrate. The reunification was not a given, but the work of courageous people who stood up for freedom and democracy.”
“It remains our task to come together: in East, West, North, and South. Our diversity makes us strong,” the German leader added.
However, there remains a wide gap between the former East and West Germany, even amongst the younger population that has only ever lived in a unified country.
In 2025, Germany is facing certain shortcomings in the form of economic slowdown, low GDP and high cost of living, besides facing problems in the defence and military sectors.
While Merz has promised to reshape and transform the German economy and restore the glory of German manufacturing, he has also vowed to make the country one of the most powerful military nations in the EU.
But, there are certain problems that Berlin needs to address on a priority as it looks beyond the current fiscal issues prevailing in the country.
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